Abstract: A system and method extract a plurality of three dimensional identification minutiae from a three dimensional image of a biometric identification feature. The extracted three dimensional identification minutiae from the three dimensional image may be compared to one or more sets of three dimensional identification minutiae to determine an identification and/or confirm an identification. In a preferred embodiment, the system and method extract three dimensional identification minutiae from a three dimensional image of a fingerprint, and compare the extracted three dimensional identification minutiae from the fingerprint to one or more sets of three dimensional identification minutiae associated with previously classified fingerprints to determine and/or confirm an identification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonvolatile memory device and to a method for manufacturing same. According to the present invention, the blocking insulation layer of a nonvolatile memory device having a typical SONOS structure is replaced with a threshold voltage switching material, which changes to a low resistance state only while a voltage greater than a threshold voltage is applied while maintaining a high resistance state under normal conditions and returning to the high resistance state when the applied voltage is removed. The present invention performs a program operation by injecting charges from a gate electrode layer into a charge trap layer through an insulation layer formed of the threshold voltage switching material after applying a voltage pulse greater than the threshold voltage to the gate electrode layer.

Abstract: A method includes coupling electrodes to a patient's head and identifying whether any of the electrodes form a functional set, such that a desired therapeutic effect is achieved when the two or more electrodes deliver a total amount of current to the patient regardless of what portion of the total amount of current each respective electrode carries. One or more constant current sources are provided, each having a supply and return terminal, which supply and return equal amounts of current at any given time. The constant current source(s) are coupled to the electrodes in such a manner that each supply terminal and each return terminal is coupled to no more than the electrodes of a single one of the functional sets, if any, or to a single one of the electrodes not included in one of the functional sets.

Abstract: Devices for production of electricity and/or hydrogen gas are provided by the present invention. In particular, microbial fuel cells for production of electricity and modified microbial fuel cells for production of hydrogen are detailed. A tube cathode is provided which includes a membrane forming a general tube shape. An anode is provided which has a specific surface area greater than 100 m2/m3. In addition, the anode is substantially non-toxic to anodophilic bacteria. Combinations of particular anodes and cathodes are included in microbial fuel cells and modified microbial fuel cells.

Abstract: A method of driving an alternating-current (AC) motor while periodically obtaining a rotator angle of the AC motor. The method includes: (a) driving the AC motor by a dS-axis voltage, which is a voltage for an exciting current in a stationary reference frame, and a qS-axis voltage, which is a voltage for generating a rotational force in the stationary reference frame, while sequentially applying different dS-axis voltages and different qS-axis voltages to the AC motor in a control injection period; and (b) obtaining a rotator angle by a dS-axis voltage value, a qS-axis voltage value, a dS-axis current value, and a qS-axis current value in the control injection period.

Abstract: Disclosed is a treatment for ophthalmic diseases, more specifically, a pharmaceutical composition for treating ophthalmic diseases including a fusion protein of FK506 binding protein capable of penetrating into the ocular tissue as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention discloses cysteine prodrugs having the general formula: cystine dimers of the cysteine prodrugs having the general formula: protected cysteine analogs having the general formula: and dimers of the protected cysteine analogs having the general formula: The invention further encompasses pharmaceutical compositions containing the disclosed prodrugs, dimers, and analogs, and methods of using such compounds for treatment of schizophrenia and drug addiction.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprises a polymer with a fully conjugated backbone or a conjugated block with a plurality of binding groups connected to the backbone by a linking moiety. The binding groups permit a non-covalent binding to a graphitic surface such as a carbon nanotube. A composition of matter where an electroactive polymer with binding groups connected to a conjugated backbone through a linking moiety is bound to carbon nanotubes. Such compositions can be used for a variety of applications using electroactive materials.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for mounting, removing and retaining brake pads in disc brakes, such as air-operated disc brakes utilized on commercial vehicles, in a manner which does not require the use of separate brake pad retaining devices while providing positive retention of the brake pad. A preferred embodiment includes a brake caliper mount having brake pad abutment surfaces having radially-oriented and lateral grooves which permit a brake pad with corresponding projections on is lateral sides to be inserted through an opening of the brake caliper into the radially-oriented grooves until the backing plate projections are aligned with the lateral groove, and advancing the brake actuator behind the brake pad to place the brake pad in an operating position in which the actuator prevents the brake pad from realigning with the radially-oriented grooves until the actuator is retracted to permit brake pad extraction.

Abstract: Provided is a battery exchange method for an electric vehicle. The battery exchange method includes (a) opening a protection cover of a battery mounting module installed at an upper portion of the electric vehicle, and transmitting an open signal to a battery charge station; (b) releasing a locking unit of a pre-mounted battery, and transmitting an unlocking signal to the battery charge station; (c) determining and storing a mounting location of the battery using an image sensor; (d) controlling movements and operations of a battery replacing robot when the unlocking signal is confirmed, and ejecting the pre-mounted battery from a battery seating base of the battery mounting module; (e) controlling movements and operations of the battery replacing robot to move a prepared fully charged battery into the battery mounting module, and mounting the fully charged battery on the battery seating base in the battery charge station.

Abstract: The present invention provides alphavirus replicons and methods of their use in producing heterologous protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for targeting an imaging agent to cells of an animal to detect localized infections. More particularly, localized infections are detected by targeting imaging agents to inflammatory cells having receptors for a vitamin by using vitamin-imaging agent conjugates.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for transferring ions for analysis. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing a sample including an ionizing source for converting molecules of a sample into gas phase ions in a region at about atmospheric pressure, an ion analysis device, and an ion transfer member operably coupled to a gas flow generating device, in which the gas flow generating device produces a laminar gas flow that transfers the gas phase ions through the ion transfer member to an inlet of the ion analysis device.

Abstract: An assay system designed to detect a protein biomarker in urine that is diagnostic for interstitial cystitis (IC). The presence of a 9 amino acid glycopeptide, antiproliferative factor (APF), in urine is unique to patients with IC. Urine samples from patients who exhibit symptoms consistent with IC are added to the assay system. Binding of APF to the cytoskeletal associated protein 4 (CKAP4) is positive for the presence of APF in urine and diagnostic for IC. The diagnostic system is a significant and surprising advance in diagnosis of IC and has commercial applications relevant to women and men who suffer from symptoms consistent with IC.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel salts of raltegravir, processes for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. The present invention also provides crystalline sodium salt of raltegravir, process for its preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising it. The present invention further provides a process for the preparation of amorphous sodium salt of raltegravir. The present invention further provides a process for the preparation of raltegravir potassium crystalline form H1.

Abstract: Described herein are truncated EGF receptor polypeptides, nucleic acids encoding them, and methods of using them to help select a method of treatment for an EGFR-related cancer, to predict clinical outcome, and to detect micrometastases or minimal residual disease. High EGFR expression and phosphorylated EGFR predicts poor survival in head and neck cancer patients, but does not correlate with advanced stage disease. In our studies, we determined that clinical biological correlates are likely to be more accurate when different aspects of EGFR are evaluated in combination. We analyzed EGFR phosphorylation, expression and mutations in 60 primary head and neck tumors. We not only found that head and neck tumors with either truncated or activated EGFR tend to have higher tumor and nodal stage, but also discovered three EGFR truncations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of a novel restriction/modification system in Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. The discovered restriction enzyme is a HaeIII-like restriction enzyme that possesses a thermophilic activity profile. The restriction/modification system also includes a methyltransferase, M.CbeI, that methylates at least one cytosine residue in the CbeI recognition sequence to m4C. Thus, the invention provides, in various aspects, isolated CbeI or M.CbeI polypeptides, or biologically active fragments thereof; isolated polynucleotides that encode the CbeI or M.CbeI polypeptides or biologically active fragments thereof, including expression vectors that include such polynucleotide sequences; methods of digesting DNA using a CbeI polypeptide; methods of treating a DNA molecule using a M.CbeI polypeptide; and methods of transforming a Caldicellulosiruptor cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonvolatile memory cell string and a memory array using the same. According to the present invention, a wall type semiconductor separated into twin fins and a memory cell string formed with memory cells having a gated diode structure along each fin are enabled to increase the degree of integration and basically prevent the interferences between adjacent cells. And a first semiconductor layer and a depletion region of a PN junction wrapped up by a gate electrode are enabled to remove GSL and CSL by GIDL memory operation and significantly increase the degree of integration for applying to a neuromorphic technology.

Abstract: A system for use in a lecture environment in which a lecturer delivers a lecture to students. The lecturer can broadcast questions to the students to test their understanding of the subject matter of the lecture, and the students' answers to those question are made available to the lecturer in real time. This makes it possible for the lecturer to adapt the lecture to the students' level of understanding of the subject matter of the lecture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a core-shell nanoparticle, a method of fabricating the same and a gas sensor using the same, more particularly to a core-shell nanoparticle which includes a core including a first metal oxide and a shell including a second metal oxide, the first metal oxide and the second metal oxide being oxides of the same metal having different oxidation states, a method of fabricating the same and a gas sensor using the same.